Jeff Lyash, the former president and chief executive officer of Progress Energy Florida, announced his resignation as executive vice president of energy supply for the merged company.

Lyash's departure is effective Dec. 31. His responsibilities will be divided between two current executives.

Lyash, who ran Progress' Florida operations from 2006 to 2009, joins a growing list of Progress executives who have left or plan to leave following the company's July 2 merger with Duke Energy. His total compensation last year was $2.3 million.

A major proponent of nuclear power, Lyash has played a key role in the proposed construction of two new reactors in Levy County. His departure will not affect Duke Energy's decision about building the Levy nuclear plant or whether to repair the broken Crystal River nuclear plant in Citrus County, a utility spokesman said.

"His decision to leave was his decision," said Dave Scanzoni, Duke spokesman. "That has no relation to operations in Florida or anywhere else."

Lyash's Florida successor, Vincent Dolan, also is leaving the company by the end of the year. Alexander "Alex" Glenn will replace Dolan as the president and chief executive officer of Progress Energy Florida.

The departures began with the firing of Bill Johnson, the head of all of Progress Energy's operations in the Carolinas and Florida.

Johnson was slated to run the new combined company but was fired the same day he took the job. The Duke Energy board cited a lack of confidence in Johnson, in part because of the handling of nuclear operations in Florida and the broken Crystal River plant in particular.

As the dust slowly settles on the executive changes, Duke Energy continues to focus on bringing the two companies together.

On April 29, Progress Energy Florida will become Duke Energy Florida. At that time, the company plans to roll out its new logo design on signs, buildings and vehicles. That process is expected to take several months.